VERWOOD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

It was a good opening spell with both teams committed to attack. It took 24 minutes to break the deadlock with the hosts clearing their lines following a Vining effort, with a massive Up ‘n Under. We were caught at the back and an excellent lob over Tierney resulted in H&D going ahead. 0-1.

3 minutes later we drew level when a classic Davies run down the left gave the full back no choice other than to sweep the ball out for a corner. Dyer pinpointed Joy and a glancing header made it 1-1.

6 minutes later we kept up momentum with good football stemming from Evans and Eaton. Eaton’s squared back ball found Kimber racing in. A good shot followed but the ball finished up shaving the wrong side of the post.

Gajic suffered disappointment with 8 minutes left of the half when he took paint off the angle of bar and post with a header that had the keeper beaten.

Mills then stopped an effort on the edge of our box body blocking a rising volley and then watched Vining hit the side netting in a counter attack.

The half ended with a flurry of attacks from H&D but Tierney had the measure of anything dropping in the box so the half finished level pegging.

Half Time 1-1.

59 minutes Hatch came on for Mills with the change meaning a full back berth for the versatile Kimber.

We needed time to settle. H&D sensed an opportunity to increase their tally.

O’Hare and Joy cleared shots in the box and Tierney made a brilliant save low to his right.

65 minutes almost took H&D into the lead but a low cross hit knees and skidded past the post.

Kimber made a brilliant tackle to stop a lone runner getting into the box but couldn’t do anything to help with 15 minutes left when a deep cross was knocked past Tierney following a scramble in the 6 yard box. 1-2.

No heads dropped. Quiet the reverse. We hit back. Davies cut in from the left with 6 minutes left and brought a fingertip save from the keeper. The corner was headed wide by defenders but Vining clipped the ball back for Hatch to try his luck. Hatch slammed a low shot for the corner of the net but saw it deflected by a defenders toe. Another corner. Dyer floated another great cross but O’Hare headed wide.

We pressured but H&D box was dense and the ball was regularly put into the back row of the stand.

It was a nail biting finish but H&D held on to the lead to take the 3 points.